Two activists from environmental group Just Stop Oil briefly interrupted the England Rugby Championship final by entering the pitch at Twickenham on Saturday before being arrested.
In the 21st minute of the match between Saracens and Sale, when the score was at 6-6, two members of the group which campaigns for the stopping of any new oil and gas exploration project burst onto the pitch before sprinkle orange powder on it.
The activists, wearing Just Stop Oil T-shirts, were quickly exfiltrated, to cheers from the crowd when one of them was tackled by security personnel shortly before the meeting does not resume.
“Twickenham Stadium are able to confirm that two people have been arrested and this is now a matter for the police,” the club said in a statement, praising the swift action of stadium staff.
“It’s my duty,” said Patrick Hart, a 37-year-old doctor, in a Just Stop Oil statement. “The climate crisis is the most serious health crisis that humanity has ever known,” he said.
“We have no more time (…) The whole world knows that allowing new fossil fuel projects in 2023 will lead to the death of millions of people,” said Sam Johnson, an employee. of the construction industry for 40 years.
Just Stop Oil has recently targeted events like the Chelsea Flower Show or the World Pool Championships in the UK.